By Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu
Before ever someone would understand the heart of Reuben Abati on secessionists of Ibadan, an article published on Premium Times Newspaper on 16 April 2024; it would be more convenient and friendly to revisit an article written by the same person on the Whistler Newspaper, published on 15 January 2016 to mark the 50 years of the first military coup in Nigeria.
Reacting to the piece may still seem to be part of the recriminations and bitterness but it is far from it. We must face the facts and tell ourselves the truth. I have no reservations for any line in the words of Reuben Abati. He is a great historian and imbued with a powerful memory. Now, here lies the point:
All historical evidence attest to the fact that leaders in every age and at all times are held accountable by the people they govern. A little shift from this was what made Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, to lose the kingdom handed over to him by his father. Further revolt from him resulted in the death of Adoram, who was in charge of tribute to the king.
The spate of development in Nigeria and the nature of political leadership in the country suffocate the masses making each tribe, group or region desire earnestly to answer their father’s name. “To your tents, O Israel” implies that if you are a leader and have chosen not to please the masses,then you govern your family and your father’s house.
After all,in my dialect,it is said that a person is only rich, great to his siblings and family, not to any other person. Therefore,if you are a political heavy weight, powerful, famous, influential, invincible, yet you cannot better the lives of the ordinary people, then you are a notorious criminal.
There has been calls for a constitutional review, conference, restructuring, federal character or equitable distribution of resources in Nigeria. Why? A group of elites hijacked the country and they are living large, flamboyantly from the sweat of the poor masses without any recourse for the public welfare.
Moreover, it’s only a call to transfer power to the people. It must be repeatedly said that Nigeria is serially colonized – not once, always. During the trans-atlantic slave trade, black slaves were bought, chained and taken to the West Indies. Unfortunately, some of these slaves collapsed and died before they were brought to the slave masters.
That was a great loss. Then, the slave masters began to place specific orders – broad shouldered, tall, dark and strong, who will be able to provide the needed manpower. In the same vein, the minerals and resources in Nigeria are in high demand all over the world and the colonizers would not let her be.
Matter of fact, Nigeria came under the British colonial rule in the nineteenth century. They came through the waterways while the Fulanis came through the desert. Both were colonizers with heavily invested interest in Nigeria and her people. After more than a century, these colonizers are still in Nigeria by proxy.
We cannot say that Nigeria is underdeveloped; Nigeria is a poor country; Nigeria lacks great talents. No. Nigeria is under a stronghold that would not let her be. The colonizers fully aware of the amalgamation, would never let any part of the country to separate and develop. It would automatically affect their derivatives.
All the coups and counter coups prove that there’s hardly a selfless leader and that tribalism, nepotism, bigotry are stronger. The various agitations, protests, outcries, demonstration, point to the fact that there’s a deafening oppression, intimidation, marginalization and series of injustice going on in the country. Opportunists use Nigeria as platform to feather their nests and enlarge their coasts while the rest of the people perish in abject poverty. The trial of various coup plotters, imprisonment, silencing of purveyors of self-determination,or even the execution and their conviction has never abdicated their righteous course.
Economically, Nigeria remains ensnared in a neo-colonial web, with foreign powers and multinational corporations extracting its vast natural resources to the detriment of local development. The legacy of resource exploitation and unequal trade relationships has left the country vulnerable to external pressures and economic exploitation, hindering its ability to achieve true self-sufficiency and prosperity.
To overcome these obstacles, Nigerians need to advocate for leaders who prioritize national unity and competence. Political parties must strive for inclusivity and transparency. Citizens should hold leaders accountable for promoting unity and development, not ethnic or personal gain.
Finally, just as Abati opined; the past has taken over the present and ruined the future – this is where we are. Anyone who thinks that with or without them, there would not be any Nigeria should mind her family and at the same time allow others to mind theirs. Nigerians would feel better if they are separated by tribe than united in suffering. History supports separation on grounds of marginalization. Millions of Nigerians abroad are ashamed to disclose their identity. Why should it be so?
Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu writes from Awka.
